Thursday, April 21, 2011

If you watched Extreme Couponing last night, I'm sure you noticed Amy Woodall was shopping at a Schnucks. In one transaction, Amy purchased 93 packages of croutons for free after her $0.50 coupon doubled.

What? How could that be?

Schnucks double coupon policy is quite different depending on where the store is located.

Update:The Jefferson City store is now limiting doubling of coupons to 15. If your store has had unlimited doubles, you might want to check and see if they are continuing that policy.

I have a question for Jeri or one of the other experts on the site. I went to Schnucks in Crestwood this morning and bought 12 of the Yoplait yogurt. I used two 40 cent coupons which should have doubled up to 80 cents. But when I got home I noticed they only 'doubled' up to 76 cents. I would have asked at the store but I usually just count the beeps when the coupons are being swiped. Today I used 12 coupons, so 12 beeps. I realize this is only 8 cents but I am just being curious. If anyone could tell me why this didn't double completely to 80 cents I would appreciate it very much.

I was going to say the same thing as Will. I asked the cashier and she said some convoluted explanation that included the maximum of 2 free items. Huh? She said something about federal law and things being given away for free. Huh? She sited milk as being an item that can never be free. This is obviously not true because there are catalinas for free milk periodically.

I've had the same issue at Dierbergs and the .40 coupons not being *doubled*. I asked the cashier there once and they manually overrided the order and deducted the full .80.

I've had that issue of the coupon only doubling up to 76cents as well. I think that since the yogurt is priced at 38 cents it only doubles the value of what one yogurt is priced so it's 76 cents even though you are buying more than one.

Hi All - If gas wasn't so expensive I might consider a trip to Columbia to shop.

Yoplait coupon - This is my quess why the yoplait coupon dosen't double correctly. I think the thing is coded incorrectly. I don't think until the longer bar code is used, there is a code for .40 off 6.

I'm not a yogurt eater, but I'll try and remember to put a heads up note on my post when I list this coupon from now on out. Cashiers need to be warned it's not going to ring up correctly.

I think I can answer the Yoplait question. I worked at Schnucks for 6 years, but now am a stay at home mom. :) If the yogurt is ringing up for 38 cents each, that is the max the coupon will take off without intervention from the checker. I think that is the reason. I am not sure how much the individuals are, but that would be the factor. There was a time when the coupons wouldn't double if it was off multiple items, no matter what the individual cost was. Just a glitch in the system. You can ask the cashier to manually put the coupon in under dairy if you remember next time. Or call the store now, and they will make a note that they owe you the difference next time you are in. I realize the amount isn't great, but I would use a coupon for 8 cents off a product! ;)Hope this helps

About the 'no free milk'..... the cashier is not wrong. There are regulations in place about that. The Milk industry is so strong that there are different rules that govern it. When you get free milk for buying something, the cereal company or whatever you buy is actually paying for the milk. They redeem the coupon as if it were a coupon for one of their products.

There are no laws about the limit of how many free items you get, but it is Schnucks policy to limit 2 free items with purchase of 2 when they have a BOGO free sale.

Your cashier may not have been completely informed about the policies or got policies confused or been only half listening at training. This could explain her misinformation.

The state of Missouri does not allow brand specific milk coupons. However they do allow for $ off milk coupons if it does not specify a brand. I had to investigate this last year as I had won Free milk for a year from the Milk Council and I had 52 FREE milk coupons. I actually had to print a copy of the "regulation" from the state of Missouri’s website to show my grocery store. You can find the PDF HERE: http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/c416.htm

I would actually like to have a coupon policy for Schnucks. Does anyone know where I can find one? I live close to the Bettendorf Schnucks, so am thinking their double coupon policy is a little unfair that only 4 stores don't get the doubling. Thanks for helping me out.

Hi Kandice - Schnucks does not have a published coupon policy. I'm sure becuase it is so different depending on what market you are in. You can email their Customer Service and I think they will send you some info depending on what market you are in.

Here in St Louis, Schnucks doubles to $.40. Rarely does it make a difference.

My husband and I both grew up in Iowa. We wish we had Hy Vee in this area.

I agree that the Columbia coupons are not always that great thats why i buy the city newspapers. I think i will have to check out the Columbia schnuks now, thanks for the information on the double coupon policy

Hi Columbia Shopper - Yes, you have a much more generous coupon policy at the Colubia Schnucks than we do in St Louis. If you can get the KC Sunday paper, check out the coupons in it too. I've heard they get better value coupons than we get in the Post-Dispatch.

Denise From IL here...do you have any information in regards to Schnucks coupon doubling over here? I am in Belleville..was just curious as all the stores listed are in MO. Thanks in advance for any & all help! :O)

Ooops Ok I do see some IL listings sorry about that...I guess Belleville is not one of them...I might ask customer service next time I'm in though just to be sure...THANKS & sorry about my ooopsy....I'm a lil sleep deprived! LOL!

The Jefferson City Schnucks now has a 15 double coupon maximum and they don't allow you to check out multiple times to avoid the limit. Apparently that's what some were trying to do. They did kindly allow me to check out 4 times due to a catalina requirement and agreed to hand key the last coupon that should not be doubled. Thanks to the awesome manager!!

According to that manager, the limit on doubles is due to all of the "new" couponing going on and people coming in and clearing the shelves. While I realize it might be fun to buy 90+ bags of croutons please use some common sense and allow all of the families trying to save a buck to have a chance at the sales.

I am really not liking this Exteme Couponing show and I don't even get cable/satellite (too cheap...that's why I coupon). It started with people buying all the St. Louis papers for coupons and now the stores are changing the coupon policies -- for the worse.

you guys are being greedy, and will wind up changing the coupon policies for everyone. When the supermarket sells the item @ 10/$10, they are already selling at a low gross profit margin. When you use a 50¢ off coupon and the store doubles it, the store is taking that 50¢ loss per item. I dont blame them for not letting you rip them off. If they allow that, they will have to raise margins somewhere, like on us good customers who just want some cheap prices. I noticed walmart makes it thru this unscaved, as they sell us all of their china produced items. Just get 1 or 2 items and stop killing the country I love.

To anonymous on June 12: The store could choose not to double coupons if they are losing money on the deal, but as long as they double my coupon, I'm going to take them up on their offer. Why are you on a couponing blog if you don't intent to use a coupon?

Hey all...My IL store does double BUT in the long run I am better off at another store as my Schnucks is many times $0.50 at least more per item! for example milk for $4.39??? WHAT??? Not when I can go next door to Target and get it for $2.99 every day. Unfortunately my Schnucks is NOT coupon friendly AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!! Today I was told I could NOT do the following: I purchasaed 2 Kraft Salad dressings. Each bottle had a $0.50 off peelie. I also had a coupon for free produce up to $1 when you buy 2 Kraft dressing. Yep you guessed it. I was NOT able to use my peelies on the dressing and still get $1 off produce. I did ask the manager to explain it. He was quite rude and annoyed. I was very nice and just asked him to explain it to me so I didnt misinterpret coupons in the future (never would want to give us couponers a bad name). Anyway he was a jack@$# . Schnucks better start being nice. Their store is NEVER busy and they are WAY over priced. I only go in for an extremely good deal ( like the $10/10 if I have coupons). They are so over priced that I did NOT use my $10 off a shopping order of $50 or more because I would outrageously overpay on items to get to $50. Anyway just thought I would share what is going on up here in IL. In the world of competition Schnuck's better get a clue because other stores are running them over. Hopefully I am the minority but judging from posts here I am guessing not. Happy couponing all

HI Illinois Shopper - I'm sorry to hear you have such a bad expierence at your Schnucks. You should call the Corporate Customer Service line and relay your story. When the store I shop didn't understand how coupons worked, I called corporate and they made sure the store employees were trained on coupons.

I think most of use couponers in St Louis "cherry pick" at Schnucks. They sometimes have a few great deals, but not always.

Is HyVee moving into your part of IL? I'm originally from Iowa and love "The V." There customer service is the best. I've heard they are expanding in IL, but don't know where.

I went into Schnucks and had over free 50 item coupons. They told me they only take 5 free item coupons and got a huge attitude with me. So I write the companies and get free coupons. Does that make me a bad person? I actually had them call security on me once cause according to them I had 8 free product coupons. All direct from the companies and they actually drug me in for questioning on why i was stealing from them. SERIOUSLY????

I am new to this and need alot of help... I've been reading youn alls post on Schnucks and it really discouraged on going to their stores. I just want to get the best deals and not go overboard. So I might need to reconsider my options.

Don't be discouraged. Schnucks still has great deals. Not every week but when they do, you can stock up in resonable quantities of itmes you will use. Check out the coupon match-up pages to see the deals.

I don't normally shop at Schnucks, but I had a BOGO free internet printable and they said they do not take them. Do other Schnucks say this also?? The match-up page listed it on a sale item, so I thought it would work.

The store in DeKalb IL is doing triple coupons this week only! Because they don't do this I am new at this. It says face value of .55 will be tripled limit 20. SO I assume that means if I have a coupon that says $1/2 that it wont be tripled even though it is only taking .50 each item. Is that correct????